Which of these children would benefit most from an independent education?

[earlycomputers]

I am due to fund one out of these three children to go to a good independent school throughout their secondary education. Which, out of these three, would get the most benefit if they went? I appreciate they could all benefit to some degree, but, who, in your opinion, would get the most out of it - just based solely on this info: Child A: bright academic high-flyer, ambitious to attend a top university, consistently top in most subjects; Child B: conscientious student who gives a lot of effort but is of average ability in most subjects; Child C: average ability, fairly modest ambitions for the future, very practical/physical learner (as opposed to book learner), has always disliked school lessons in general and is generally demotivated by academic stuff (Child C has had experience of both independent and state education).
Thanks in advance

I would divide the funds between the three - 5K a year worth of tutoring/activities would improve outcome for all of them. No individual child is more or less deserving of support for their education.

A will do well where ever they go
B would be my choice overall BUT
C if a specialty school that catered to a hands on learning experience was available (sporty all boys boarding type)

There are no schools that I know of who can cater to someone like child C (who is not classed as 'special needs'), who want to focus on practical as opposed to academic skills and learn outside of the traditional classroom. If anyone knows that such schools exist for secondary level - please let me know!

Child C sounds like they might thrive at somewhere like Sidcot - on-site stables and farm, non selective, with a "whole child" ethos where academic achievement is not the be-all and end-all. There are a number of similar schools up and down the country if that's not convenient geographically.

Both Child A and child B ought to thrive anywhere but it depends whether they live in a naice leafy suburb where the comps have plenty of motivated and bright peers or whether they live in a catchment black hole and are destined for somewhere utterly grim, so availability of a good state school is a clinching factor here. State education can be excellent - if it seems certain that either A or B is going to be massively let down by being channelled into the very worst of the state sector then rescue them, if not then they will be fine and child C is the one who needs a carefully chosen environment in order to thrive.

dorsetstudioschool.co.uk

BTECS in countryside management. Btecs generally.

(for child C)

Also it depends if child C is from a wealthy family or not. I know plenty of Cs who go to expensive private schools and noodle around doing art. They have a lovely time and come out noodling around doing art or party planning. None of them end up as medics, private school can't work miracles. If child C is not from a wealthy background then there are plenty of post 16 colleges that do BTECS which really are excellent. Use the money to buy tutoring, experiences,driving lessons and a car.

Child A is ambitious so will hopefully channel that outside of school too, supplement learning with online resources and volunteer for any additional opportunities.

Child B you can speculate all grades would improve. Maybe would move future choice from ok college to decent university course if that is their aspiration.

Child C if you can find the right school could potentially benefit the most. I subscribe to the view that peers influence teens more than family. If they dislike school the chance of low sets/poor behaviour and general downward spiral exists.

What about other aspects such as confidence as individuals? Would one really benefit also from the sporting opportunities or music etc?

I would say A if their alternative school does not provide a range of GCSE options or enough challenge.

Funny Hayesking, Dorset Studio School went through my mind too. But we have no idea where these DC live or how old they are (think DSS only takes from Y10?).

Brymore could be another option. However, either would involve living in the West Country.

B A C in that order.

B because it could potentially really make a difference.

A will get 'there' regardless of school.

C has already had the opportunity of private education and doesn't appear to have benefited from it.

I would say it depends on the alternatives for each child and how well their needs are currently being met. Also on family circumstrances/ background.

I don't buy the bull that bright kids do well anywhere, so if A's alternative is a school that is geared towards middle achievers then I'd pick them. However if A has a great state alternative then I'd pick B.

Don't know enough about none academic privates to say what the benefits to C would be.

Really interesting thread. What decision did you make in the end, earlycomputers? Am on tenterhooks!

If you are looking for the greatest difference possible and all other things are equal, then it will be child B without a doubt.
However, for child A it could be a game changer depending on their home life. Everyone on MN always says, ‘oh bright children achieve wherever they are.’ But that’s simply not true. Bright children in a good quality state school who have a calm and supportive family life will be fine. However, very bright children whose home life is chaotic, who maybe have nowhere to study at home or whose state school is very challenging and therefore will be influenced by undesirable peer pressure may ‘dumb down’ their ability in order to fit in or simply not be able to do any HW or study at home due to the chaos. If this is the case then it could be life changing for child A.

However, if these 3 children are siblings then I would say unless all 3 can go then it’s a really really bad idea to do this, esp if you are their parent or grandparent. I know 3 sets of adults siblings where similar decisions were made and in all cases it has resulted in anger, resentment and the siblings being less than close.

Who are you? King Lear?

Surely if you are awarding a scholarship of some kind there is a framework or some level of transparency in decision making. Does it include ‘ask anonymous posters on MN’ ?

Anyway:

A if A has a socio-economically challenged background.

C if the school will actually cater for the child’s potential and support their needs.

B hmmmm. Yes if the child has a disadvantaged background. The country is already host to enough ‘averagely bright’ compliant mc kids who have flourished in the private school networking

Give the money to the poorest set of parents to move to the catchment for the camp that best supports their child’s abilities.

C for me. Children like this can achieve a lot in the right setting. it may not be a conventional university route but they will offer a lot if motivated and supported.

When you look at the opportunities that are available to children like A that slam doors closed for children like C - it is quite shocking.

Can I ask though and be honest with yourself, even if not on here - will you be providing the financing and stepping back or will you be wanting to control the path the child takes?

I know this is an old thread and so the decision has probably been made but for me the parents would influence my decision more.
If one of them has very supportive parents who will provide them with a place to study and be interested in what they are doing and encourage them I would maybe not help them. If another one has a disruptive home life, parents who are not interested etc then I would want to help them.

Zombie thread but I'd love to know the OP's decision...

B, then A, then C

You are funding someone else's child? on the face of it. What an amazing thing.

Which child? I don't think I could choose based on the scant info in your OP. Would they be receiving a bad education in their state school? My dd goes to a state comprehensive, is severely dyslexic yet I couldn't be happier with her school and more importantly she loves it. She had a taster day at an independent school (so they could maintain their charity status - I shit you not!) and she didn't enjoy it.

Are the parents poor? Could they keep up with the "extras" and expectations that the wealthier kids have? Would social pressures cause hardship? it's not just the school fees themselves that cost. Those things could make a negative impact.

With the info I had I'd say child B but without knowing them and the school it doesn't count for much

100% B for the reasons others have said. A will thrive regardless. C will probably do equally as well at a good FE college and could do an apprenticeship.

Child A (assuming the school is academic)

A will be able to make the biggest difference to their life chances. If they are exceptionally able, and a really bad fit with their state school, you will also be taking them out of a situation which can actually damage their mental health (redoing work all the time can lead to perfectionism in very able children).

It's a myth that able children do well anywhere. Many lose heart when the work is too easy over a prolonged period and start to try to find new ways of amusing themselves e.g. By being disruptive in class.

Otherwise if the school is fixed but the child isn't, then choose the child who fits best with the type of school.

If child A will reliably come top in a state school then it seems child B would benefit most - with smaller class sizes and more intensive teacher time she might improve beyond average.

Another consideration is that universities do place weight on the school an applicant has attended, and if child A has excellent grades from a state school she will be looked on more favourably than if she had the same grades from a private school. Therefore if she is likely to get the grades anyway, she might be better off in state education. She's also more likely to get scholarships than child B.

(Sorry for assuming female students, just realised you never specified!)

Definitely b first, then A.... Should the appropriate schools be there, for C if they do not wish 'traditional' educational route then would a btec not be better which you do not have to pay £££?

B, A, C

B